New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-06-15
LAND CLAIMs HIIIfsDER..

Simon S. Nelson OF Beadle Comfy. OAK, Kills
Four Persons and Chen Himself-TWo Of the
Victims Women, One BEING Slaughtered While
on Her Knees yainly Craving Mercy.
Huron, Oak. Special Telegra m, June g.
A quadrupple murder and suicide occurred
in Lake Byron, this (Beadle) county, to-
day. Simon S. Nelson came to the coun-
ty in July, 1879, took up. land
south OF Cavour and lived there
three years. He was regarded
by his neighbors as a law.abiding citizen
although OF strong passions, OF average in
telligence, and u hard worker and did not
NEEDLE with his neighbors nor their affairs.
He was one OF the first commissioners OF
Beadle county and served threeyears. Five
years ago, when what are known as the
Cameron claims were thrown open
ito settlement, Nelson took up one.
Mrs. Flora E. Shaw, a wild ow with her sis
ter, Miss Alice e. Lyman, from Geauga
county, Ohio, came to Huron in April,
1882. They Immediately filed on thequar-
ter section OF land which Nelson had put
some kind OF filing on, but it was reported
that Nelson had land covered up
under fictitious names, and. thev,
seeing that he did not live on the
claim, built their house and moved
into it. After the usual contests, the sec
'retary Of interior gave the land to Mrs.
Shaw and Nelson would not leave the
premises. Last Friday, when young Shaw
attempted to work on the land. Nelson
took a Winchester rifle and threatened to
shoot him ii he did not leave; which heidi.
This morning ID. S. Lyman, a brother OF
Mrs Shaw and Miss Lyman, Corwin Shaw,
who lives two miles away, all
went to the field to work. Mr.Lyman and
Mr.. Shaw began blowing. The women re.
manned at the edge OF the field. Mr.. Ke!-
sey had not begun to work. He did not
want to go for he feared trouble, inasmuch
as he had been threa tened with death by
Nelson.
with Lyman just behind him. and turned to
mako another furrow, Nelson came out
with q Winchester rifle and shot at Lyman
who dashed behind his horses and was not
hit. Lyman called to all: run for your
lives!" Corwin ran, but fell dead, shot
through the heart, the ball entering his
back at a distance OF thirty yards. Neil
son fired at Kelsey, who fell shot through
the right lung and one kidney, and Neil
son supposed him dead. By this time
the murderer had got up to the tvs
women, who stopped and faced him. When
they saw that Corwin had fallen they ran
no further. Mr.. Lyman says that Neils on
then came up to the women, talked tc
them. reloaded his gun and then deliberate
ly shot each OF them to death. When Miss
Lyman was shot she was seen by her broth
er to be kneeing before the tigerlike
monster piteously pleading for her life
but he knew no mercy. He put the muz
zle Of the Winchester close to her face and
shot her in the left temple. She was found
by the deputy sheriff on her face and knees
with her head toward the direction from
which her murderer approached her. Her
face was backened with powder. Nelson
then pulled out his knife and stabbed hel
in the right breast, and his appetite tol
others blood was satiated.
He walked passed the three he had kill
ed, and onward toward home, which hi
soon reached. Then Nelson went into The
house and said to his WIFE ''There's three
less Of them" Then he went outside where
his horse was saddled as though he woulC
ride away, but in moment a report OF 8
gun was heard, and as Mrs. Nelson went
to the door she saw him fall dead to the
ground a bullet in his right temple. Kel
sey died soon after being shot. The par
ents OF the ladies who were killed live il
Chester, Geauga county, Ohio.